Automatic skip control mechanism



Sept.

E. H. LICHTENBERG 1,824,607

AUTOMATIC SKIP CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Och 1926 2 SheetS -Sheet 1 ZHZIZZCI,

Sept. 22, 1931.

E. H. LICHT ENBERG AUTOMATIC SKIP CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 28, 3926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 W Z M a 1 5% A M E: b

* has reached I its position for charging the v pparatus. 4 i5,

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 sum- TED I E FJCE emen H.T LICHTENBEBG,1OF MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, ASSIGNOR To VKOEHRING eoMPANY, OF-iMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ACORPORA'IIQN.

AUTOMATIC :sxrr con-T301. lMEoHANis Application filed '0ctoberi28, 1926; "Serial 'No. 144,798.

The present-invention relates"to i1nprove In "the 5 accompanying" drawings "IllQIltS in skip controlsemployed' in con'j unc- :tion with loading sklps *for concrete mixer The operation of elevating and lowering these charging skips not infrequently 're-- sults in serious accident-and damage, "due to carelessness on the part of the: operator 1 n HIIeStlIlgtllG inovementofthe sklp when it materials into'themi-Xingdrum-or inproperly controlling the lowering movement so as; to

prevent heavy impingement withthe ground in returning toreceive its load of charging i m-aterials. 'The element Qf'Skill' in the application of the '5 braking 111621118 usually employedffor effecting the proper control 1s a material factor to he "reckoned' 1tl1- at all critical nioinent or to the desired degree" to discontinue the movement oftheslnp 1n an effective manner;

"Broadly speaking, therefore 'the object of the present improvement-s *is to provide IHGQHS 'fOI' automatically arresting =the mo'veinent of the loadingskip once said; movement has been initiated by the; operator and *rep v g'ardlessofwhetherthiszmovementisthe ele- 'vating or lowering movement of sa1d skip.

"In carrying out any inventionga's it is:ap plied'to a conventional type of-mixlngappw ated manner properly synchronized with the -movement of said drum as the limit of's' kip movement is approached.

Afurther 'oh'ecti-ve resides in the utilization of yieldable actuating :means for the brake applying lever capable of readyadustmentso as to modify the points of: comp n :times buttnotwithstanding the best ot-skill, 1 F520 it is'di flioulttoalways'apply the brake atthe F is loosely mounted, subject to clutch en- I V Figure 1 is a diagrammatic =-VieW in side GlGVAtlGH-Ofa m1-X1ng apparatus'of the type tOWhlCll my lnven'tionis applled;

Figure 2 is an enlargedendelevation of the 555 invention showing-the drum actuatingshaft and frame ot' the apparatusin section 1 Figure 3 is: a frontelevation of the mechanisinforming the features of these im- ;provements; I i

F'gure-dis a sectional viewtaken on the plane of Figure 2 and showing the relationship of the yieldable camming mm 2 here to the brake "lever operated thereby 1 F1gll1B -5 is a sectional View on the T line 55 of Figure'3; and 1 Figure 6 is a 'fragmentarysectional vie-W 011'the-line'6 6 ofFigureS. 7

"-Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the :several figure's'ofthedrawings; t "iIn Figure 1 of he drawings is-shown diagrammatically a mixing machine having my improvements applied thereto. encuml chine lnGhldGS the conventionalHoarding-skip A and the mixing drum B, 'with the ring :gears C of which'the spaced drumdrivin'g pinions "D coact. These pinions are 5 carried by the engine'onhoisting drum drivingshaft E, referring now to Figure 3 3 of the :drawings, and on'this shaft the hoisting drum gagement throughithe'operation'ofthe clutch lever G to "effect; rotation of the drum for Teeling-in on the skip hoistingcable H." The clutch is generally indicated bythe reference 7 character iI, "itbeing of ith'e rordinary type employed in these mechanisms and ;there- -fore requiring; no specific description. 'iAt' one end of v the drum is located the librake'm surfa'eeJ encircled-bythe hrake K, :thedead end of- Which :is attached term-bracket La't secured to the frame of theimachine, the

f lo

live aend l heing adjustably connected the i brake lever N-by the' pivoted-bolt 0. j W5 'The foregoing ilnechanism presents::=no=}unusual feature. I shall: now,:howev er, describe the a "Kiel-16811191113 and terminationzofbrakeapplig cation. I i

Other and further objects and-advantages JdfthednVntlOlT be hereinafter set dorth pplioation {361311611 mechanism )flmyinandthenotlfeatures thereof defined loy the nti I r "appended-claims. l .i i 1 The drum]? er diameter giving the slow speed and maximum pulling power at the commencement of the lifting action when the load is greatest, the speed increasing as the momentum of the skip is gained. At the smaller diameter end of the drum there is provided a spur gear 10 which meshes witha special form of pinion 11, seen best in Figure 5, and having an internally threaded hub 12 receiving the threaded end portion of a slide rod 13,-

The pinion is mounted in a divided bearing 14, one section 14 of which is properly fashioned to form a guard '14"- for the pinion 11 and gear 10 as well as a=pivot mounting for the locking pawl 15 by means ofwhich the drum may besecured against movement when desired; The opposite end of the rod 13 is slidingly received in the'bearing 16 which may be suitably bushed or provided with roller bearings to reduce friction. y

' About midway of the rod 13 is adjustably mountedanaipstanding arm 17 curved isoas to be concentrically spaced-from the drumat its largest diameter, to permit freedom of travel across the drums winding area. At its upper extremity this arm car- -ries an adjustable knock-out member 18 positionecl to impinge the clutch lever G when the arm 17 approaches the limit of its travel -asthe' skip nears its discharging position. This arm also carries, adjacent to the member 18, the cable guide 19 which consists of a slidable support bearingspaced guide rollers 19 between which the cable H passes. This arm-17 functions further to carry the automatic brake actuating-means,which in the exemplificationof this invention ,consists of two V-shapled spring members -20 20, one positioned above the other and in opposing relation. One leg of each of these members is adjustably held by suitable clamping means 21 so that its other leg is diagonally disposed relative to the brake lever N and in position to come into sliding contact with the said lever as it travels transversely thereto. This wiping contact is such as to cause a gradual shifting of the rlever to produce, in effect, a graduated brake action; they therefore are in the nature of slidable or spring cams and will be so designated hereinafter. 7

7 It will be understood fromothe statement of the operation to follow that one of these cam members operates the brake in arresting elevating movement of the skip and the other the lowering movement of said skip and their adjustability' makes it possible to p'iedetermine both the point of commence- .ment and the degree of brake applying action as will be readily understood by considj eration of the detail View of Figure; The yieldability of the contact element of these 8 members of course permits the brake lever to be manually operatedirom brake applied ,p'osition' soyas 1 to initiate the "descent of the skip in one position of these members or permit of initiation of hoisting operation in the other position of said members. In this connection it is important to note that rotation of the cable drum in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2 operates to shift the live end of the brake member, tending to produce a release of the brake and this naturally minimizes the power which is necessary to be applied on the initial movement of the skip when the load is greatest. When the skip reaches its uppermost limit of movement and the clutchis automatically thrown out the tendency of the drum to rotate in the opposite direction applies pressure to the dead end of the brake and renders the brake action more efiective to hold the skip in its elevated position. On the other hand,

shaft The movement ofthe drum is transmitted to the pinion 11 and through said pinion to the slide rod 13 which is caused to .be shifted toward the left by the spiral gear,

speaking with reference to the showing in Figure 3. Thiscarries the upright arm 17 in the same direction and as the skip reaches its elevated or charging position the clutch knock-outmember 18 impinges the clutch lever G throwing out the clutch and discontinuing the rotation of the drum. As this chargingposition of the skip is approached,

and in-the movement of the arm 17 above referred to, the spring cam 20 wipes across the brake lever 5N applying to said lever increasing pressure, which in turn applies an in- .creaslng brakeaction to the brake member K.

The skip under the'conditions recited above 8 is held in its elevated position by the brake anduntil the-operator wishes the same to-be lowered to its initial position upon the ground. When this is desired the brake lever N is moved inwardly against the yieldable cam ele'ment of the actuating means 20 thus releasing the drum which under the influence of the weight of the skip rotates in the reverse direction unwinding the cable H from said'drum. This reverse movement is correspondingly transmitted to the pinion 11, to the rod 13, and to the arm 17 which moves. now .tothe 'righta l As the skip approaches 7 the ground the second actuating means 20 wipes across the brake lever N and applies thereto a graduallyincrea'sing. pres- 'IHLSklP positions.

' 50 at a predetermined time.

'ngsa'acm' I 55 iibflIS .QOLand ithe. poirrtlinatheitravel .oftthe ZHIIIlll-i? whenxhrakeapplicationjs'startedimay be 'varied "according :to :desire ;so :that the complete brake application will the effective at the :pr opcrmomentwvith respect to tthe ,lt'will be tobviousifrom the -foregoing de- *scrip'tion of the ioperationithat.theimovement .0f the ;.skip will be :.automatically :arreste'd in;theaevent the .operatorsmovesfrom his :op

erating :position after tonce initiating the zmovement-of thesskip. IIn fact;loy .the auto- :matic operation .theoperatoriisgiven ventire freedom to take care of other :details iofropaeration ;of :the apparatus. ..B.y 'mechanically mo-applying the brake to the-hoisting drum in 2the :manner vset forth :the apparatus is pro- @tected .toa greatzextentpaga'inst inexperienced or carelessapplication of thebrakemeans.

While .-I :have :set forthzherein .the application .of this control .to 2 skip operations of concrete mixers, .I .do :not thereby .Wish to be zlBSlZIilCtGCl to .thatfield, asitima-ysreadily be applied to the operation of other instrulmentalities with:.equalefiectiveness.

.Havingthus described my invention, What PI 1 claim 7 as new J and desire .to secure I by. Letters :Patentofthe 1U nitediStates 21S: V

:1. .Intcontrol meansof theclass described,

.a Winding drum and means -.operated from 3 said drum "for graduall-y :and uniformly .ar-

resting movement thereof at apredetermined time, i

2. In: control means of Y the class described, a Winding drum, brake means therefor, ac-

14 tuating means for said brake means, and

- means for gradually operating said brake actuating means from said drum to produce a uniform increase in brake application as the drum revolves.

3. In control means of the class described, a Winding drum, brake means therefor, and brake operating means operative synchro nously With the drum and effective to arrest movement of the drum in, a gradual manner 4.. In control means of the class described,

a Winding drum, an operating sha-fttherefor', brake means for arresting movement of thedrum, actuating means for said brake means.

: mounted to travel synchronously with the movement of the drum, and means operated from said shaft to cause travel of the actuating means into position for gradually operating the brake means at a predetermined 1.60 point in the travel to produce'a uniform increase in brake application as the drum re-. volves. V I v 5. In control'means of the class described,

a winding drum, a brake coacting therewith,

T195 a brake lever, and means operabletransverse @lever.

' predetermined time.

- plythe 1 brake, and operable in the a other aingraction and :grad snnultaneously.

lyof said brake lever :in'to "wiping acontact therewith-ate effect brakeapplication.

6. .In controltmeans of1:the:class described, a winding :idrum, a. brake co acting therewith, a'brakelevertherefor, yieldableimeans adapted "to cooperate :With the lever .to shift the P same with gradually .:increasing. :braking action, :and .means .forJshifting said yieldable mean's into cooperative relation'tos aid. brake 17.. In control:- means i'of lthe :class described, I 3 -axreversiblegwinding drum, a brake .coacting therewith, a brake.leveritherefor, 'yieldable,

nleans'movable toiand from cooperationwith .said brakelever, :and means ifOP shifting the 0 yieldable means in such :opposite :directions ztra'nsversely of the brake lever according to "theidlEGCtiOnO1E,.I'Cital3lOI1.0ftllidlllllfl, I r

c8. In .control means vof the -..class described, a Winding drum, an operatingshaft therefor, .zbra-ke :means for said drum, actuating .means .operable incidentto -:movement .of the drumjnto cooperative relation to. said brake .meansfor arresting movement of thexdrum, .;and means :for adjusting :the pointcof com-.90 :mencement of; brake. application. v

19(In control meansofthe class described, arwin'ding .drum,.an operating shaft therefor, abrakecoacting with said drum, a brake lever for actuating said brake, an arm .movable relative tothe brake lever,andjmeans car- :ried by' said arm andoperable'upon thelever henthe armpasses said .brakelever'to effectarresting movement of the .drumzat a V Y -10. .In control 'means-o'f the class described, iawinding drum, anoperating shaft therefor, a clutch lever operable to effect clutching of thedrum'to said shaft, a brakeroope'rative 'Withjsaid drum,;a brake lever for actuating :said brake, and control means shiftable .With relation to 1 the drum into 1 contacting relation ".tQxSZlld clutchand brake levers -to a-utomati- -ca'lly effect. declutching of the drum and brakeapplication at a predetermineditime. .1110 11. In control means of the classdescribed, a Winding drum, anoperating shaft therefor, a clutch lever-operable to effect clutching of a the drumtosaid shaft, a brake'cooperative with said drum, a brake lever for-actuating 1.115 said brake, 1 and control means shifta'ble, in ,one direction into coacting relationyto the brake-andclutch levers to declutch and api. rection toiapplythe brake alone. c .12. vIncontrol-means of the class described, a Winding drum, a cable adapted; to be wound thereupon, an operatingshaft for said drum, 7 clutch meansfor clutching said drum .to :the .shaft, brakemeans for. arresting ,movement of the drum, and control means 1 cooperative With the cable, the. clutchand brake :means, -Wherebyj to ,guide. the cable, effect declutchually apply the brake ward movement thereof.

15. In skip control means for mixer apparatus, the combination of a loading skip, hoisting means therefor, brake means coacting with said hoisting means, and means set into operation by said hoisting means to actuate said brake means for gradually arresting downward movement ofthe skip.

16. In skip control'means for mixerapparatus, the combination of a loading skip, hoisting means therefor, brake means cooperative with said hoisting means, and means for actuating the brake means in upward movement of the skip to set the brake means and to arrest the skip at discharging position,

said means being also operable to uniformly decelerate and arrest downward movement of the skip.

17. In skip control means for mixer apparatus, the combinationofa loading skip, a hoisting drum, a cable connecting the sk p to said drum, an operating shaft for said drum, clutch means for clutching the drum to said shaft including a clutch lever, brake means for arresting movement of the drum includinga brake lever, and control means movable incident to movement ofthe drum into cooperative relation to said clutch and brake means said means includin a clutch knock-out member, a cable guide, a brake operating member for applying the brake through the said brake lever when theskip -is elevated and a second brake operating member for'applying the brake through said brake lever when the skip is lowered.-

18. In skip control means of the class described, the combination of a winding drum,

an operating shaft therefor, brake means for arresting movement of the drum, a shaft "at one side of said drum and shiftable relatlve thereto, an operating connection between said drum and said shaft for effecting the shifting action, and brake actuating means i mounted upon said shaft for effecting application of the brake to said drum. 7

19. In skip control means for mixer apparatus, the combination of a'loading' skip, a r holstmg drum therefor, a cable adapted to 'be wound upon sa d drum and connected to 7 said skip, anoperatingshaft for said drum, brake means for said drum including a brake rlever a slidable shaft mounted adjacent to i said drum, gearinginstrumentalities between the drumandsaid slide's haft 'fo r effecting sliding movement during rotation of the drum,*and means mounted on said shaft for effectingbrake application to the drum through the operation of said'drum, said brake applymgmeans comprising a pair of yieldablercam devices adaptedto impinge the brake lever. a

20.1 inv skip control means for mixer apa hoisting drum therefor, a cable between said drum and skip, an operating shaft for said drum, clutch means for clutching the drum to said shaft including a clutch lever,

drum including a brake lever, a slide rod mounted adjacentto the drum for movement longitudinally thereof, said'rod' having a threaded portion, gear elements on said drum and rod for shifting said rod incident to rotat on of the drum, an upright arm carried by said rod,aknock-out member mounted on said arm, a cable guide mounted on said arm, and brake lever actuating members mounted on said arm in spaced relation to each other and shiftable into contact with the brake lever upon sliding movementofthe rod in opposite directions.- Y

21. Apparatus of the class described, comparatus, the combination of a loading skip,"

brakefmeans for arresting movement of the prising in combination, a loading skip, a

winding drum having a hoisting cable wound thereon and attached to the skip, a movable member" operable by the winding drum through driving connections, and means on said member for guiding the cable while it -1F; being wound. f

In testimony whereof affix my signature.

- ERICH H. LICHTENBERG.

ioo 

